Glam Africa: The Revolutionary Edition (2019)

Q: D’banj, your incredible journey began with
the decision to move back to Nigeria. Why did
you decide to move back?
Honestly, I've never been too comfortable being
in one spot. Today it looks like this great story,
but going back to Nigeria and so many other
big things that God has done with the brand
have happened through misfortune. Don Jazzy
and I went back to Nigeria because we had no
money - no money at all - and I think Jazzy and his
former partner had fallen out. Before that, one of
my friends back home, Ruggedman, told me that
he'd been paid a thousand pounds for a show in
Nigeria, and so I went to Jazzy and I said, "there's
money in Nigeria, let's go home" even if it was
just to balance ourselves out for a little while ... he
agreed. So going back to Nigeria was literally
out of us looking for visible hope. Then after going
back, in less than a year, everything changed.
not something you'd wish on your worst enemy.
Losing a child is not something you ever think
about, I'd never, ever thought about it before.
Unlike other situations, this was one thing that
really broke me. Getting through it took the grace
of God and a little bit of therapy, but I'm happy
that over time, I've been able to channel those
feelings into my music, which is so important for
me. The most important thing that I prayed for was
restoration. No matter how many times I tell me
wife that everything is okay, I know it's God that
has to give us the restoration, and I'm proud to
say that in a few months I'm going to be a father
again. On the album I wanted to talk about how
we've been able to deal with the loss and how
we're still dealing with it, but more importantly, to
let people know that we're on our way to being
restored, and if that can happen for us, it can
happen for anybody.
Q: Afrobeats has now completely transformed,
we're seeing different doors open for the likes of
Wizkid, Davido, everybody has kind of walked
in the path that you opened doors with. What
were some of the struggles for you as an African
pop artist trying to become the superstar that you
envisioned and taking your music international?
The biggest problem for me was lack of belief
because no one had done it before. People didn't
believe - not my partners, nobody but me. For
me, I think that was the hardest part. Today, a
child can wake up and tell his mom, "I wanna
have a number one record worldwide", and it's
believable. But when we were saying it, it was
more like a dream and so that was one major
struggle, but I'm the kind of person who when I set
my mind on something and I pray and I believe
and I move, it might be tough, but I'll always do
it. I'm so happy for us as a continent and as an
industry as well, because getting that access was
one of the hardest things for us to get. When it
comes to the UK industry, you'd have to actually
ridicule yourself or go through a lot before they'd
even recognise you, but today to come here and
see my posters on the wall as we were driving
down, to see the things that are happening and
hear and see all the successes is just a dream
come true and an affirmation that I'm on the right
path.
Q: The last year and a half has been really tough
for D'banj, the artist, and Dapo, the person. Our
condolences to you and your family for the loss
of your young one. How have you been able to
cope through this very difficult time?
Firstly, I want to thank everyone out there that has
supported us. I believe that it's God that granted
the grace and mercy for myself and my wife to be
able to be here today, and be able to smile. It's
71